Machine for shaping the backs of book-covers.



I. C. GOURLEY.

AMACHINE FOR SHAPING THE BACKS 0F 800K COVERS.

` APPLICATION FILED 'FEB- I9, I9l6. 1,230,292.

Ptented June 19, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SHEETS-SHEET 2. Inl

Patented June 19, 1917.

J. C. GOURLEY.

' MACHINE Fos sHAPlNG THE BAcKs 0F BooK covERs.

-APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9. 1916:

I. C. GOURLEY.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE BACKS 0F BOOK COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9, I9IQ.

Patented June 19, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTED STATES PATENT FTC.

JAMES C. GOURLEY-7 OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMYTH MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OE CON- NECTICT.

ivIAoi-INE ron 'snArI'NG THE BAcris or Book-Coviims.

Patented J une 19, 1917.

Application zfiled February 19, I. Serial No. 79,?'2`0.

To' cZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. GOURLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Shaping the Backs of Book-Covers, of which the following is 'a specification.

A book cover orease has two, more or less stiff, sides flexibly joined to a back. The case of the most 'common form of book has the two sides stiifencd by paper or pulp boards and the intermediate back lined with thin paper or cloth, these being applied to the outside covering of cloth, paper, leather or the like material in such manner that the joints between the edges of the sides and the back will be flexible and allow the book to readily open. The machine which forms the subject of this invention is designed to give proper shape to the backs of such cases.

Books vary greatly in length, width and thickness, and may be what is known as round backed, flat backed, or flat back books, and the cases forthese must, of course, vary accordingly. The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient machine which can be used to rapidly and cheaply set in the desired shape the backs of book cases of various styles and sizes.

In the machine illustrated the cases are stacked in a magazine, which is adjustable to accommodate various sizes, and one at a time successively removed from the bottom of the magazine a'nd by an adjustable feed carried along between adjustable guides, over a former of the size and style to' impart the required shape, and between creasers, adjustable vertically vand horizontally, in such manner that the backs are quickly and ac'ciirately creased and set in the' desired shape. This machine is so designed that it may be used for shaping cases for either round backed books, or flat backed books, or flat back books, by simply changing the former, of any length, width and thickness, within the limits of adjustment of the mechanisms.

Figure 1 of the accompanying illustrations shows a plan of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation. Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the left hand end. Fig. 4 shows an elevation of the right hand end. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 55 on Fig. 1. Fig; 6 is a section and Fig. 7 a plan of the chain feed bl'ocks. Fig. 8 is a section through a former and the creasers of lone shape. Fig. 9 is a section of forni'er and creasers of an`v other shape. Fig. 1'() shows a former and creasers of another shape. Fig. 1l is a plan of an 'end of 'one of the creasers shown in Fig. 1'0. Fig: 12 shows a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

The magazine for receiving the stack of cases consists of two upright plates 1 that have their lower edges attached to blocks 2 fastened to bars 8 which are movably mounted on the top of the frame bed 4 in such manner that by moving the bars in and out the side plates of the magazine may be adjusted toward or from each other for accommodating cases of diiferent shapes and sizes. These bars extend parallel the length of the bed and are utilized to support the -edges of the cases as they are fed through the machine. The bars also carry the wings 5 which guide the cases as they are fed along from the magazine. .The wings are desirably jointed, as at 6, and the ends near the magazine are pivoted to the supporting bars, while the other ends are held by adjusting screws 7 Thisenables the wings to be set so that 'they will converge for a short distance from the magazine toward the discharge ,end of the machine and crowd the sides of the 'cases toward each other as they come from the magazine 4and thus provide the required vamount 'of slack in the backs to allow them to conform to the shaping former 8, and when the backs are suiiiciently slack the wings entend parallel so that the cases will travel along in this condition. The supporting bars bearing the magazine plates and the guiding wings are adjusted toward and from eac other by means of screw shafts 9 at each end of the machine, which shafts are connected at the front by bevel gears 10 with a shaft 11 that extends across the front of the machine so that the bars 'can be moved at both ends coincidently.

The frame at the left hand end near the rear supports a driving shaft 12, with a pulley 13 and a clutch 14 on the rear end of the shaft. A shipper rod 15 is arranged to eX- tend to the front of the machine and connect with a shaft 16 having a handle 17 by means of which the 4clutch may be operated for connecting and disconnecting the pulley and the drive shaft. On the driving shaft is a pin-- ion 18 which meshes with a gear 19 on a countershaft 20 that extends across the left end of the machine. On the countershaft are two sprocket wheels `21. At the right hand end of the machine the frame supports a shaft 22 having two sprocket wheels 23. The shaft at this end is supported by bearings in pillow blocks 24 which are movably mounted on brackets 25 so that the s rockets may be adjusted independently. procket chains 26 extend from end to end of the ma chine around these sprocket wheels and travel in channels in the top of the bed, passing beneath the open lower end of the magazine. On these sprocket chains at suitable intervals are blocks 27. These blocks are removably fastened to links of the chain and attached to each block is a spring plate 28 that may have its front end raised the desired amount by a plunger'29 beneath it and an adjusting screw 30 which is adapted to turn against the plunger from one side of the block. By turning these adjusting screws the plungers may be forced up so as to lift the front edges of the plates above the surfaces of the blocks sufiiciently to engage the edges of the sides of the lower case in the stack in the magazine. The feed blocks on the chains are guided by the walls 3l of the channels in which they run, and on one side the blocks have a tongue 32 that fits an undercut opening in the outer wall of the channel, for the purpose of holding the blocks down as they pass through the channels from one end of the machine to the other. The position of the pusher blocks can be altered on the chains for various sizes of cases, and the pusher plates on the blocks may be adjusted for cases of different thickness.

On top of the bed between the channels which form the guides for the chains and feed blocks is a bar 33 to the upper face of which is fastened the shaping former 8. This former tapers outwardly for a short distance from the magazine, and near its other end it is full size. The cross sectional contour of the former vis such that at the end where it is full size it is just the size and yshape of the inside of the back which it is to form. These forming bars are of different sizes and shapes and are changed for forming backs of different sizes and shapes. Beneath the forming bar is a pipe 35 provided with jet openings. This pipe is adapted to be connected with a gas supply, which when turned on and ignited, will keep the former sufliciently warm for it to accomplish its function of shaping the backs of the cases. As the cases are fed along by the blocks on the feed chains with their sides resting on the supporting bars and between the guide wings the backs travel labove the forming bar. As stated, the bar is tapered so that it is somewhat smaller at the magazine end than at the other end which has the correct contour to give the inside of the cover the required shape. This enables the covers to readily pass onto the former as they are carried along by the feed blocks. The heat of the gas flame is utilized to soften the glue or other adherent which has been employed to secure the back linings to the outer facing or covering of the cases.

As the cases are fed along the supports by the feed chain blocks between the guides and over the former, the edges of the backs pass between two creaser bars 36. These creaser bars may be set so that their inner faces are somewhat inclined toward each other and they are shaped to press the cases along the edges of the sides and make the hinge creases between the backs and the sides, and at the same time hold the backs tightly down on the heated forming bar and cause them to assume the correct shape.

These creasing bars are attached to sleeves 87 which are arranged to slide along bars 3S that extend from front to back and are supported at each end by a frame 39. The sleeves are adjusted toward or from each other by screw rods 40 which are connected by bevel gears 41 with a rod 42 at the front. The creaser supporting frame is movably retained by brackets 43 at the front and back and is adjusted vertically by means of screws C 44 which are threaded into the frame and are by beveled gears 57 geared to side rods 45 that are connected by bevel gears 46 with a rod 47 at the front, so that by turning the rods and screws the frame with the creasers i;

end ofthe bars may be adjustedindependently of the frame according to the thickness of the sides of the cases and the manner it is desired to have the bars act on the cases, that is, the magazine ends of the holding bars may be a little higher than the other il ends if it is desired.

In Fig. 5 the former is shown as shaped for forming cases round backed books, and in iig. S the former is designed to shape cases for flat backed books. In these instances the creasers are shown as adapted to tuck the edges of the backs inward. Fig. 9 shows the former as adapted to shape alcase for a fiat back book. Fig.V l0 shows a rounded former 5l with creaser bars 52 that crease the backs close to the edges of the sides. In this case the creasers are mounted uponY bars 53 that are fastened to the sleeves 37 which are supported by the vertically adjustable frame 39. By turning the screw ISO 54 and moving the creaser bar longitudinally it can be adjusted vertically. This-action is desirably attained by making a diagonal groove 55 in the bar and providing lthe back of the creaser With a do-ve-tail tongue 56. The bars 53, by moving the frame up and down, can be adjusted according to the thickness of the sides so as to hold the sides down, and the creasers can be adjusted independently of the bars so as to force down the backs and form the creases close to the edges of the sides.

With this machine cases for books of any length, Width and thickness, lWithin the limits of the machine, may be stacked in the magazine which is adjustable so that it Will properly hold the cases of different sizes. The feed blocks are adjusted according to the length and thickness of the cases, and they engage the edge of the lowest case in the stack and push it out of the magazine, carrying it along on the supporting bars While the guide Wings crowd' the sides together so as to give the backs the necessary slack. The backs pass onto the tapering former Which gradually increases in size so as to give the backs the desired shape, and at the same time the creasers between Which the backs pass put in thecreases and hold the backs tightly down to the former which vis warm so the backs will be set in shape. The supporting bars and Wings are adjustable sideWise With the magazine Walls, and the creasers holding down bars are moved up and down together so they can be located in suitable position, and the holding down bars and creasers are independently adjustable vertically so that they Will properly hold down and crease the cases, While the creasers'are independently adjustable side- Wise. l Y The invention claimed is; A

1. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgevvise through the machine, means engaging the insides of the backs of the cases as they are fed for imparting the desired form to the backs, and means engaging the outsides of the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the backs down closely to the forming means as the cases are carried along.

2. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for en.- gaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a fixed forming bar for engaging the insides of the backs of the cases as they are fed, and creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over the forming bar as the cases are carried along. l

3. A Vmachine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a'magazine for receiving a stack of. opened cases, means for feeding the cases successively edgewise out of the magazine, a fixed forming bar over Which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, and creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over the forming bar as the cases are carried along.

a. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, means for heating the former, and creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over the former as the cases are carried along.

5. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgevvise through the machine, a former over Which the backs of the cases are fed, and creasers in contact with which the backs pass and under which the sides pass as the cases are fed.

6. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, wings engaging the edges of the sides for guiding the cases over the fo-rmer, and creasers for holding the backs of the cases closely to the former as they are carried along.

7. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and' feeding the cases successively edgewise out of the magazine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, Wings engaging the edges of the sides for guiding the cases over the former, and creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over the former as they are carried along.

8. lA machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over thel former as they are carried along, and means for adjusting the creasers horizontally and vertically.

9. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, wings engaging the edges of the sides of the cases for guiding the cases as they are fed, means for coincidently adjusting the magazine Walls and Wings for cases of different sizes, means for engaging the sides of the cases and feeding the cases edgewise successively out of the magazine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases,

creasers for holding the backs of the cases to the former as they are carried along, and means for adjusting the creasers horizontally and vertically.

10. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having chains and? blocks attached to the chains for engaging the sides of the cases and feeding the cases through the machine, fixed means over which the cases are fed for engaging the insides of the backs and imparting the desired form, and means engaging the outsides of the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the back to said forming means as the cases are carried along.

11. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, chains With feed blocks passing beneath said magazine, means over which the cases are fed for engaging the insides of the backs and imparting the desired form, and means engaging the outsides of the backs adjacent to thev junction of the backs and sides for holding the backs to said forming means as the cases are carried along.

12. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, means for adjusting the sides of the magazine toward and from each other, means for engaging the sides of the cases and feeding the cases edge- Wise successively out of the magazine, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of thefcases, and creasers for stretching the backs of the cases over the former as they are carried along.

13. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise successively from the magazine, a former that increases in size from the magazine outward over Which the cases are fed for engaging the insides of the backs and imparting the desired shape, and creasers engaging the outsides of the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides and holding the backs to the former as the cases are carried along.

14. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a fixed former over which the cases are fed for imparting the desired shape to the backs of the cases, a gas burner beneath the former for heating the former, and creasers engaging the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the backs of the cases to the former as they are carried along.

15.-A machine for shapmg the backs of book covers o1l cases having a magazme for receiving a stack of opened cases, means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgeWise successively out of the magazine, a Xed former over Which the cases are fed for imparting the desired .-7 shape to the backs of the cases, converging Wings engaging the edges of the sides of the cases for guiding the cases over the former, means for adjusting the convergence of said Wings, and creasers engaging the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the backs of the cases to the former as they are carried along.

16. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving 'a stack of opened cases, means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise successively out of the magazine, a former over Which the cases are fed for imparting the desired shape to the backs of the cases, bars for supporting the sides of the cases, Wings mounted on said ing the backs, creasers in contact With which j the backs pass and under Which thesides pass as the cases are fed, and means for adjusting said creasers toward and from each other.

18. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having chains, blocks adjustably mounted on said chains and push plates adjustably mounted on the blocks for feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, fixed means over Which the cases are fed for engaging the insides of the backs and imparting the desired form thereto, and means engaging the outsides of the vbacks adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the back closely to the forming means as the cases are carried along. l f

n 19. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, means for holding down the sides 'of the cases, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, jointf ed Wings engaging the edges of the sides for guiding the cases over the former, and creasers engaging the backs adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides for holding the backs of the cases closely to thek former as they Vare carried along. Y

20. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having a magazine for receiving a stack of opened cases, means for engaging the sides of the cases and feeding the cases successively edgeWise from the bottom of the magazine through the machine, holders for engaging and retaining the sides of the cases flat, guides for engaging the edges of the sides and forming a path for the cases, a former over which the cases are fed for shaping the backs of the cases, creasers for engaging the'backs of the cases adjacent to the junction of the backs and sides and holding the backs of the cases to the former as they are carried along, and means for adj usting said holders vertically and oreasers horizontally and vertically.

21. A machine for shaping the backs of book covers or cases having means for engaging the sides of the opened cases and feeding the cases edgewise through the machine, a former over which the Cases are fed for engaging the insides of the backs and imparting the desired shape, oreasers under which the cases are fed for engaging the outsides of the backs close to the inner edges of the sides for holding the backs to the former and creasing the backs as the cases are carried along, creaser supporting bars adjustable toward and from each other, and means Jfor adjusting the creasers up and down on said bars.

JAMES C. GOURLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

